The Apex Vaulting Podcast

Dylan Spadacinni owner of Strength Speed + and also former high school pole vaulter and collegiate decathlete joins the podcast to discuss training at home at this time as well as how small business owners in the fitness industry can better serve and help their clients during this time. We also discuss the importance of having some strength and conditioning knowledge and experience as a pole vault...

It is a trying time for all of us with COVID-19 but hopefully this podcast helps to address some of the concerns that the pole vault community is having, and if we work together we will make it through this. Calvin Hartman describes his at home workouts that will keep you in shape if you are without a gym. Hang in there everyone!

Former member of Apex from 2015, Ahmad joins the podcast to explain how he not only convinced his mom to let him pole vault but also join the club. After listening to the pure joy and excitement Ahmad experienced pole vaulting everyone will want to try jumping!

The great Bubba Sparks joins the podcast and shares some of the amazing knowledge and wisdom he has picked up from being involved in the pole vault for 55 years! We discuss what causes run throughs, how to run practices and much more. This is a must listen!

Calvin joins the podcast and we discuss training plans. How do fit technical days and longer run days in your schedule? How do you manage CNS fatigue, not just muscular fatigue? We also discuss how to pick and choose exercises when you're crunched for time. Thanks for listening, and please subscribe!

On this Thanksgiving, Jake Winder joins the club and tells us about his journey through the pole vault. It is a true family affair for the Winders, and what pr's and national titles once did for Jake is now overshadowed by the joy and excitement of coaching his own club, Rise Athletics. What a great episode, and how appropriate during this holiday.

Doug Houser of Vertical Assault joins the podcast again. Doug and Branko discuss how things other than technique can help create a safe and successful club. They discuss the impact of culture, and promoting hard work over results alone. They also discuss the importance of competing on the runway but working together off the runway with other coaches, clubs, and programs to grow the sport outside o...

The amazing Shawn Francis joins the podcast again and he talks about his inspiration for his book, The Pole Vault Tool Box. Five dollars from every book purchased, and actually anything purchased off of team-hoot.com, goes towards funding a pole vault club or program with $1,000 of pole vault equipment! I can't say enough good things about Shawn, his book, or his giving nature. Help out the pole v...

Jon Hammerschmidt of Minnesota joins the podcast to discuss his process of starting a club. We discuss ideas on how to get equipment and save money in the process, ways to market your club, and how to grow the sport. Keep this in mind pole vault peeps, you aren't really competing against other clubs, we are competing against other sports and activities for clients. Lets help each other show the wo...

The amazing Cam Josse joins the podcast and discusses how a strength and conditioning program can help you jump higher! Are you concerned about gaining weight when lifting, or getting hurt. A quality strength and conditioning program will not only get you faster, instead of bulky, but also help prevent injury! This is a can't miss episode if you plan on improving your jumping this year!

Daylis Caballero joins the podcast and tells the story of how she fled Cuba to make it in America! She tells about the struggles she went through and how after a 5 year break form the vault she still managed a lifetime best of 15'1". What a great story and what a wonderful message about perseverance, gratitude, and toughness.

John Mraz is a masters pole vaulter who jumps at Apex Vaulting, but first and foremost he is a Husband and a Father! The story of his journey through pole vault is amazing. He tells about his weight loss how he avoided having hip replacement, and how Pole Vaulting helped him get healthier. He also explains how Pole Vaulting has become a family affair and how it has helped bring his family closer....

Former UT All-American Chase Brannon joins the podcast and tells us about the journey he took from college athlete to post collegiate elite. Where did he train, how does he make a living? We also discuss the recent comments from Max Kellerman of ESPN about track, and how to handle online criticism and who should be able to analyze pole vaulting.

Branko does a podcast solo! He discusses coaching philosophy, and how it guides the development as a coach. Don't get caught up playing that adjustment game!

Jason Church, head coach at Southern Regional High School in New Jersey, joins the podcast again and we discuss where competitiveness fits into pole vault and how track meets could be more popular.

Want to know what its like to win NCAA's? Well Chris Nilsen joins the podcast and fills us in on what it felt like to double pr and win the NCAA championship.

Want to know what a ride to a meet is like? Well check out episode 60 with Pete Roach. Learn how Pete became a pole vaulter and listen to Branko and Pete trying to figure out all the pole vault problems. Lol Enjoy!

Shawn Francis joins the podcast and we discuss how and why some pole vault technique and drills videos are so confusing. Shawn tells us how he thinks about creating his videos, and we also go off on a few tangents. But the tangents are probably the best part! Enjoy!

Garrett Starkey joins the podcast again! This time we discuss what your training should look like between indoor and outdoor track, weights? sprints? technical? We discuss what your expectations for training should be in the month between seasons so you don't burn out and are ready to crush it during the championship meets.

Branko sits down with Chris Chappell of UCS to discuss a little of the history of the company, how the poles are made and how things like sail pieces impact the poles you use. Great epsiode!

Branko talks to Jax Williams about her journey from a 10'9" high school vaulter to working on her PHD in Chemistry all while continuing her training and jumping 14'5". Who said you can't have brains and brawn! This episode of the podcast is inspiration to anyone tackling a heavy course load, dealing with working full time, and still training.

Do you use Dj's mid chart? Have you ever looked at all the info on DJ's Mid Chart? Branko explains how you can use more than just mids from the mid chart to help you coach your athletes to be the best vaulters they can be!

Branko sits down with club coaches Matt and Esther Fleigle at the Reno Pole Vault Summit. They discuss what its like coaching in Minnesota, and Branko thought Jersey winters were tough, as well as what they think club coaches need or should do for their members, like attending meets. Oh and that Reno Pole Summit was pretty cool too. Hahahah

Garrett Starkey and Nathan Hiett, athletes and coaches at Dean Starkey's pole vault club, Arizona Pole-Vault Academy join the podcast. We discuss the benefits of having training partners that push each other and compete, the benefits of weight training, dealing with the negativity of jumping after college, and how to overcome the negativity and actually do what you love, pole vault, and helping ot...

Former NCAA Division III Champion Michelle Favre joins the podcast to discuss her journey from an 8'6" vaulter as a freshman in high school to a 13'9 3/4" vaulter in college. Everyone wants to believe in magic tricks, but most of this podcast was about mind numbing consistency and determination.